Ruben Amorim’s Manchester United have explored conditions to sign Brighton midfield mainstay Carlos Baleba in January.

Carlo Baleba’s sensational rise at Brighton hasn’t gone unnoticed, and multiple top clubs in England have been keeping tabs on him. He has been on Manchester United’s wishlist for some time, and with Ruben Amorim keen on reinforcing his midfield, the Red Devils have knocked on the Seagulls’ door.

According to a report from Sky Sports, United have explored conditions to sign the Cameroonian international, who is currently featuring in the African Cup of Nations, in the ongoing transfer window. But a January move will be very difficult to pull off.

After making a name for himself at LOSC Lille, Baleba joined Brighton in the summer of 2023, and he hasn’t looked back since. Not only has he established himself as one of their mainstays, but the 22-year-old is also widely regarded as one of the best young defensive midfielders in the world.

While his contract at Brighton runs until the summer of 2028, they will struggle to hold onto him for long as the biggest clubs in the country are after him. Manchester United are one of the clubs that have been constantly linked with the Cameroonian international.

United want to bring Baleba to Old Trafford

The Red Devils do seek more quality in the centre of the park, amidst uncertainty around Casemiro, Kobbie Mainoo and Manuel Ugarte’s future. They see him as an ideal long-term replacement for the Brazilian international, who could leave Old Trafford at the end of the season.

United have already explored a deal for the 22-year-old in the ongoing transfer window, but they are unlikely to get their hands on him, as Brighton have no intentions of letting him leave mid-season. They want him around at least until the end of the ongoing campaign.

While Baleba is a top priority for United, they will have to wait until next summer to try their luck. Since they can’t really sign the Brighton star in the ongoing window, the Red Devils could look for other market opportunities to bolster Amorim’s team in the short-term.